F4CP celebrates september as national drug-free pain management awareness month

August 29, 2018

Written by Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

SAN JOSE, CA/PRNewswire/ -- September 2018 is designated as National Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month in the United States: an opportunity to raise public awareness about the dangers of prescription and over the counter (OTC) pain medications.

Sponsored by the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), this month of observances will educate and inform consumers, managed care, state legislators and patient referral sources on non-pharmacologic options, such as chiropractic care, to safely and effectively relieve acute, subacute and as appropriate, chronic pain.

During September, F4CP is raising awareness of the dangers of pain medication.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documented over 42,000 individuals in the U.S. died from an opioid-related overdose, totaling more than 115 fatalities per day. Last year alone, the number of deaths associated with opiate painkillers increased by 27.7 per cent.

Likewise, OTC pain relievers increase the risk of health complications when misused or taken in higher doses than what is recommended. Risks include ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Nearly 200,000 Americans who misuse OTCs land in the hospital each year.

Pain Management FactsToday 100 million people in the U.S. battle chronic pain and are searching for instant relief. They often turn to prescription pain medications for treatment of headaches, including migraines, low back pain and/or general aches and pains. As documented by the Gallup-Palmer Annual Report, 78 percent of Americans prefer to try other ways to address their physical pain before they take pain medication. A recent study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concludes that for adults receiving treatment for low back pain, the likelihood of filling a prescription for an opioid was 55 percent lower for those receiving chiropractic care than for adults not receiving chiropractic care.

According to the F4CP, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of chiropractic care, study results show that pain management services provided by doctors of chiropractic (DCs) may allow patients to use lower or less frequent doses of OTC medications and/or opioids, leading to lower costs and reduced risk of adverse effects.